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CONTEXT: Variability in the conceptualization and measurement of women's empowerment has resulted in inconsistent findings regarding the relationships between empowerment and sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Reproductive autonomy--a specific measure of empowerment--and its role in modern contraceptive use have rarely been assessed in Sub-Saharan contexts. METHODS: Survey data were collected from a sample of 325 urban Ghanaian women aged 15-24 recruited from health facilities and schools in Kumasi and Accra in March 2015. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between two adapted reproductive autonomy subscales--decision making and communication--and women's use of modern contraceptives at last sex, controlling for demographic, reproductive and social context (i.e., approval of and stigma toward adolescent sexual and reproductive health) covariates. RESULTS: In multivariable analyses, reproductive autonomy decision making--but not reproductive autonomy communication--was positively associated with women's modern contraceptive use at last sex (odds ratio, 1.1); age, having been employed in the last seven days and living in Kumasi were also positively associated with modern contraceptive use (1.1-9.8), whereas ever having had a previous pregnancy was negatively associated with the outcome (0.3). Reproductive autonomy decision making remained positively associated with contraceptive use in a subsequent model that included social approval of adolescent sexual and reproductive health (1.1), but not in models that included stigma toward adolescent sexual and reproductive health. CONCLUSIONS: The reproductive autonomy construct, and the decision-making subscale in particular, demonstrated relevance for family planning outcomes among young women in Ghana and may have utility in global settings. Future research should explore reproductive autonomy communication and the potential confounding effects of social context. Contexto: La variabilidad en la conceptualizaciony medicion del empoderamiento de las mujeres ha resultado en hallazgos inconsistentes con respecto a las relaciones entre el empoderamiento y los resultados de salud sexual y reproductiva. La autonomia reproductiva--una medida especifica del empoderamiento--y su papel en el uso de anticonceptivos modernos, rara vez han sido evaluados en contextos subsaharianos. Metodos: Los datos de la encuesta se obtuvieron a partir de una muestra de 325 mujeres urbanas ghanesas de 15 a 24 anos de edad, reclutadas en centros de salud y escuelas en Kumasi y Accra en marzo de 2015. Se utilizaron analisis de regresion logistica bivariada y multivariada para examinar las asociaciones entre dos subescalas adaptadas de autonomia reproductiva: toma de decisiones y comunicacion, asi como el uso de anticonceptivos modernos en la ultima relacion sexual por parte de las mujeres, despues de controlar covariables demograficas, reproductivas y el contexto social (i.e. aprobacion y el estigma relacionado con la salud sexual y reproductiva de las adolescentes). Resultados: En los analisis multivariados, la toma de decisiones sobre la autonomia reproductiva--pero no la comunicacion sobre la autonomia reproductiva--se asocio positivamente con el uso de anticonceptivos modernos por parte de las mujeres en la ultima relacion sexual (razon de probabilidades, 1.1); La edad, haber estado empleada en los ultimos siete dias y vivir en Kumasi tambien se asocio positivamente con el uso de anticonceptivos modernos (1.1-9.8), mientras que el hecho de haber tenido un embarazo previo se asocio negativamente con el resultado (0.3). La toma de decisiones sobre autonomia reproductiva se asocio positivamente con el uso de anticonceptivos en un modelo posterior que incluyo la aprobacion social de la salud sexual y reproductiva de las adolescentes (1.1), pero no en los modelos que incluyeron el estigma hacia la salud sexual y reproductiva de las adolescentes. Conclusiones: La construccion teorica de la autonomia reproductiva y la subescala de toma de decisiones en particular, demostraron tener relevancia para los resultados de planificacion familiar entre las mujeres jovenes en Ghana y pueden tener utilidad en entornos globales. Las investigaciones futuras deben explorar la comunicacion sobre autonomia reproductiva y los posibles efectos de confusion del contexto social. Contexte: La variabilite de la conceptualisation et de la mesure de l'autonomisation des femmes a produit des conclusions divergentes sur les relations entre l'autonomisation et les resultats de sante sexuelle et reproductive. L'autonomie reproductive--une mesure specifique de l'autonomisation--et son role dans la pratique contraceptive moderne n'ont guere ete evalues dans les contextes subsahariens. Methodes: Les donnees de l'etude proviennent d'un echantillon de 325 Ghaneennes urbaines agees de 15 a 24 ans, recrutees dans des structures sanitaires et ecoles de Kumasi et d'Accra en mars 2015. Des analyses de regression logistique bi- et multivariees ont servi a l'examen des associations entre deux sous-echelles adaptees d'autonomie reproductive--la prise de decision et la communication--et la pratique de la contraception moderne des femmes au dernier rapport sexuel, sous controle des covariables de contexte demographique, reproductif et social (approbation et stigmatisation a l'egard de la sante sexuelle et reproductive des adolescentes). Resultats: Dans les analyses multivariees, la prise de decision liee a l'autonomie reproductive--mais pas la communication--s'est revelee associee positivement a la pratique contraceptive moderne des femmes au dernier rapport sexuel (RC, 1,1). L'age, l'emploi durant les sept jours precedents et la residence a Kumasi presentent aussi une association positive avec la pratique contraceptive moderne (1,1-9,8), tandis que l'existence d'une grossesse anterieure est en association negative avec ce resultat (0,3). L'association positive de la prise de decision en matiere d'autonomie reproductive avec la pratique contraceptive se maintient dans un modele ulterieur tenant compte de l'approbation sociale de la sante sexuelle et reproductive des adolescentes (1,1), mais pas dans ceux tenant compte de la stigmatisation a son egard. Conclusions: Le concept d'autonomie reproductive, et la sous-echelle de prise de decision en particulier, se sont averes pertinents en termes de resultats de la planification familiale parmi les jeunes femmes du Ghana et pourraient se reveler utiles dans les contextes mondiaux. La recherche future devra etudier plus avant la communication, eu egard a l'autonomie reproductive, et les effets de confusion potentiels du contexte social., Unintended pregnancy, commonly defined as a pregnancy that is mistimed or unwanted, occurs disproportionately among socially disadvantaged women and is often related to a woman's lack of autonomy or power [...]

This study analyzed gender differences in exposure to family violence in Serbia and its association with health symptoms. Using data from the National Health Survey 2006 in Serbia, univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were run to examine the association between exposure to physical violence in the family (in the past 12 months) and the occurrence of 15 different health symptoms (in the past 4 weeks). Out of 12,646 interviewed adults (older than 20), women reported experiencing family violence nearly 1.7 times more often than men (1.28 % vs. 0.75 %). Women had nine health symptoms significantly associated with experienced violence, while men had four, even after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics. Depression and insomnia were common for both genders. Results suggest that physicians should pay attention to health complaints, consider family violence as an associated factor, and address violence in a gender sensitive way that is free of prejudice and preconceptions. Keywords Physical violence * Family violence * Health symptoms * Violence against women * Violence against men, Family violence is a serious public health concern that attracts the attention of international and national authorities of many sectors in societies and communities (Krug et al. 2002). Family violence [...]